Well, it's been a while since we've opened this particular jar (box is not historically accurate) owned by Pandora. Desktop Linux... Yes, that ever elusive readiness of the desktop that is Linux-powered. Some story on ComputerWorld argues that the desktop Linux dream is dead, and apparently, the story is causing some stir on the web. Well, paint me pink and call me a lightbulb, but of course desktop Linux is dead. However - who gives a flying monkey? Linux is being used by more people than ever!

Ubuntu Linux has 10+ million users, myself being one of them. I wouldn't use any other Linux distro (other than Debian or Puppy Linux on my Pentium III box) on one of my computers besides Ubuntu, simply because of the vast community. One issue, of any kind, and Google will take me to an Ubuntu community documentation or wiki page that will help solve my issue in no time.

Since I've used Ubuntu and only Ubuntu on my computers for about a year and a half now whenever one of my family members asks for help with their Windows PC I never know what to do. I can't use the terminal, and there's no community to help fix my issue.

I won't be an idiot, and I have to admit that Windows is a great OS, and is unparalleled in terms of games and several other features, including programs available for it. However, the repository is one thing I love about Linux that is not found on Windows.

Basically a good 70% of Windows users don't know what else is out there, other than Mac. They only use the OS pre-packaged with the computer or the OS that they have used throughout the course of their experience using computers.

Overall I use Ubuntu because of three key reasons: Support, stability and simplicity. Sure, I learn some skills along the way, but that's only part of the fun. Don't count me on this one, but I estimate that roughly a thousand or more people make the switch to Ubuntu or Linux daily. It's not like there's no future of Linux out there.

Ubuntu, although it has been criticized for lack of solid code contribution to the open source world, took all of the code created by the Debian developers and made it widely available to the world. When I was trying to download Debian lenny net install, all of the links were broken at the time and the website's design was not visually appealing. Ubuntu, on the other hand, has solved all of these issues and made millions use Linux.

I hope that in the future the main manufacturing companies will recognize Ubuntu and Linux and will begin supporting it.

If the OS world was a forest, Windows would be the trees, Mac would be the birds, and Linux would be the underbrush